What is Epilepsy?

Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. It’s also called a seizure disorder. When a person has two or more unprovoked seizures, they are considered to have epilepsy.

A seizure happens when a brief, strong surge of electrical activity affects part or all of the brain. 1 in 10 people will have a single seizure in their lifetime. 1 in 100 people are currently living with epilepsy. 1 in 26 will be diagnosed with epilepsy during their lifetime.

Causes

In about 70% of the cases, the cause is unknown. Of the remaining 30%, the following are the most common causes:

For more information on what seizures look like and how you should respond to a seizure, please click here for Online Materials, Brochures, and Videos.

• Generalized Tonic Clonic also known as Grand Mal
• Absence also known as Petit Mal
• Complex Partial also known as psychomotor or temporal lobe
• Atonic also known as drop seizures
• Myoclonic
• Infantile Spasms

Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy refers to the death of a person with epilepsy without warning and where no cause of death can be found. Recent studies estimate the rate of SUDEP is about 1 per 1,000 people living with epilepsy each year. In people with frequent Tonic Clonic seizures (convulsions) who are poorly controlled with medications, the rate may be 1 in 100 per year.

Nonepileptic seizures or events are diagnosed in 20-30% of patients seen at epilepsy centers for intractable seizures. NES are attacks that may look like epileptic seizures but are not caused by abnormal brain electrical discharges. They are a manifestation of psychological distress. A physician may suspect NES when the seizures have unusual features such as type of movements, duration, triggers and frequency. NES can pose a frustrating challenge in diagnosis and management.